I also have fond memories of all the things we were able to do when I was a kid. When I contemplate doing these same things now - given what you just pointed out about shrinking packages and rising prices - it seems like it happened in a different world.
I have my doubts that things will change. In general there is no such thing as turning back the dial. If we get to a point where the better economy and the cost to produce things actually going down usually what ends up happening is just that the price stays the same for a while. Meanwhile, the supermarket operators get fat on the profits.